Date: 17 April 2007

Illegal seed importer fined

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) is pleased with the conviction handed down today in the Invercargill District Court to a Stuart Island man for the illegal importation of sowing seeds.

Donald Laurence was convicted for violating the Biosecurity Act 1993. He was fined $1,500 for the attempted possession of unauthorised goods and $1,500 for acquiring unauthorised goods. He was also ordered to pay $500 for solicitors’ fees and $260 for court costs.

The defendant had obtained Neem seeds from overseas and had gone to some trouble in attempting to bypass the border biosecurity screening programmes.

When interviewed, the defendant admitted he knew that bringing plant matter into New Zealand without authority was an offence and that he had asked his brother to send the seeds in three lots to increase the chance of them entering the country undetected.

MAF’s Compliance and Enforcement Investigations Manager, Greg Reid said he was pleased with the outcome of the case as it sent a clear message about how seriously New Zealand takes biosecurity.”

“The defendant’s failure to declare unauthorised risk goods increased New Zealand’s exposure to pathogens such as an exotic fungal or viral disease, potentially placing export earnings at risk and creating the possibility of introducing yet another unwanted pest that could impact on our native flora and fauna.

“I have to say that it is frustrating and tiresome when you are responding to incidents where people needlessly and selfishly put the wellbeing of our country at risk. Some may argue that it is just some seeds, but I would say that doesn’t stack up when you look at some of the biosecurity issues we have had to confront in recent times, like didymo, varroa, fire ants and so on.”

The Neem is a subtropical tree of the Mahogany family native to India. It is a fast growing tree that grows to 15-20 metres. It begins to bear fruit similar to an olive in three to five years. A mature tree produces 30-50kg of fruit per year.

In Florida, the Neem tree is a host of two devastating scale insects Pseudaulacaspis pentagona (Mulberry scale) and Aonidiella orientalis (Oriental scale),both of which would be devastating to New Zealand’s citrus growing industry and would also cause extensive damage to all other ornamentals, vegetable and tree crops, excluding pine trees.

Only seeds listed in the MAF Biosecurity Index are permitted entry into New Zealand. If a species is not present in this index, it is considered not to be present in New Zealand and is not permitted entry.

Ends

© Scoop Media